As I mentioned on my blog a few weeks ago, I did a recent spell as the tweeter on the ScotVoices account. That is, of course, one of many “national” Twitter accounts where someone from the country tweets about their life, their country, and indeed anything (within reason) they fancy. I’ve now had a couple…
In which I briefly summarise series 2 of Danish political drama Borgen – where it’s rather astonishing what a little independent country can get up to…
In which I try (in vain) to think of a single aspect of British identity besides the passport that would die upon Scottish independence.
In which I offer a few examples that show that Scotland’s place within the UK – and the debate around it – is actually harming the interests of the other nations of the UK and fuelling political resentment. We therefore need to move from a resentful relationship to a respectful one.
In which I reflect on some surprisingly insular and xenophobic language from supposed socialists, and wonder why some left-wing Unionists appear to have such a problem with foreigners.
In which I point out that the UK and Canada’s joint embassy plans rather undermine the argument that Scotland couldn’t sustain its own diplomatic network – and indeed rather point a way for Scotland to achieve it.
An attempt to critique the various early arguments from the No campaign, following their official launch.
You know you’re in a unique place when you’re watching an exploration of gay experiences of spirituality told through the mediums of poetry and dance, and where one of the poems has the quite magnificent title of: “The visit of the Queen of the Lesbians to the gay men’s prayer group in West Belfast”. Not…
In another piece of local history I knew nothing about until I visited its site, here are some photos from Ormond Castle, which I walked around the other weekend. It’s not really a castle any more – in fact, not even “not really”, more “not at all”. It’s just a hill, flat at the top,…
In which I argue that, far from being a threat to Britishness, Scottish independence could in fact strengthen and enhance Britishness. This article was later republished by National Collective.
In which I ponder the potential implications beyond Scotland of Scottish independence.
The independence referendum is scheduled, according to the Scottish Government, for the second half of the current parliamentary term. This will mean it will probably be in 2014 or 2015. It sounds like a long way away, but we can expect its influence to beat regularly throughout politics between now and then, and I daresay…